Body Image or Soul Image?

A follow-up on that last post…

Take something about your appearance that bugs you.

Your weight, your looks, some other “body image” issue…

How much do these issues consume your thoughts? How much do you think about and long for change and improvement?

Okay. We all do it. Men and women alike. The question I’m asking is how much more ought the misshapenness of your soul consume your thoughts and prayers?

You might obsess about your weight and the dieting you need to do to look the way you want to look. Why do you not obsess about the obesity of your soul that runs to food instead of Jesus to find comfort, security, etc.?

1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "… the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart."

You might obsess with working out and eating healthy (I’m all for working out and eating healthy, by the way!). Why do you not obsess with training your soul – eyes on the Forerunner – to run the race set before you with endurance?

1 Timothy 4:7-8 … train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

You might obsess with your appearance, spending lots of time at clothing stores and in front of the mirror. Why do you not obsess with what you really look like, in the mirror of the Word, and with donning the truly beautiful clothing that ought to adorn your life?

Romans 13:14 …put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

1 Timothy 2:9-10 …women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness--with good works.

1 Peter 3:3-4 Do not let your adorning be external--the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear--but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.

1 Peter 5:5 …Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

Lord, help us to walk by faith and not by sight…so we can see who we really are and what we really need, and pursue conformity to the beautiful image of Christ!